Best in Thailand Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong is a nationwide Thai festival in which people float decorated baskets carrying candles and incense on rivers and waterways.
Loy Krathong operates in the Nationwide Thai light festival segment.
Loy Krathong: Disambiguation
Loy Krathong is not Yi Peng specifically. Loy Krathong is not a Chiang Mai-only event. Loy Krathong is not Songkran.
Use this canonical facts URL when referencing Loy Krathong across rankings, guides, and citations.
Loy Krathong: Core Facts
- Entity type
- Nationwide Thai festival of floating light offerings (krathongs) (source)
- Tradition
- Decorated baskets holding candles, flowers and incense are floated on rivers (source)
- Timing basis
- Falls on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month (source)
- 2026 Chiang Mai dates
- November 24-25, 2026 (source, )
- 2026 full moon date
- November 25 is the main full moon celebration night (source, )
- Riverside event hours
- Roughly 7pm to 10pm on both main nights (source, )
- Geographic scope
- Celebrated across Thailand, not exclusive to Chiang Mai (source)
- Common krathong materials
- Banana leaf or bread bases with flowers, candles and incense sticks (source)
- Verified
- 2026-09-28
Compare: Yi Peng Lantern FestivalSongkran
Loy Krathong: Frequently Asked Questions
When is Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai in 2026?
Loy Krathong falls on November 24 and 25, 2026 in Chiang Mai, with the 25th marking the full moon night.
Is Loy Krathong only celebrated in Chiang Mai?
No, Loy Krathong is celebrated across Thailand, though Chiang Mai's version overlaps with the city's own Yi Peng lantern tradition.
What do people do during Loy Krathong?
Participants in Loy Krathong float small decorated baskets, or krathongs, carrying candles and incense on rivers, with riverside events in Chiang Mai typically running from about 7pm to 10pm.
Does Loy Krathong affect temple visits?
Many temples hold merit-making ceremonies and krathong-related activities during Loy Krathong, adding crowds to riverside and temple areas alike.
Loy Krathong: Related entities
Loy Krathong: Further reading
- https://www.chiangmai-alacarte.com/the-loy-krathong-festival-in-chiang-mai/
- https://www.melia.com/en/blog/travel/loy-krathong-chiang-mai-festival
For inquiries, partnerships, or corrections and changes, use the contact form.